Exercise-- a delicate formula

Hello.

My name is Keri and I mother two active boys.  Each beautiful day I set out to expend the energy in the 4 and 6 year old to nil.

zilch.

depletion.

Because it is good for them, they like it and also that they might go to bed peacefully.  Sweet yawn-drenched bedtimes are rare.

So, here are some ways I try to get the bodies moving:

Kickball.  We love it so much we're even playing it at Scott's Client Appreciation Party this year.

Rock leaping with a long uphill trek as a warm up.  This is at the top of Tablerock.  I think Trevor will hike faster next time knowing the adventure that awaits.

Backyard football with the cousins.  Scott is superfun, isn't he? I'm not even playing and these are precious memories for me.

The best thing about tennis is that those balls go far enough to get a workout, but they are also contained.  I think the boys feel very impressed with the activity because of the gear. 

Ramp time.  This pic doesn't show it, but Joel is really learning how to catch some air off the end of the ramp.  When he falls he also gets right back up with "I'm ok! I'm ok!" just to make sure mommy doesn't put it away for the day.  He is aware I can only handle so much.

More ramp!

Swimming!  It's fun, it's cool, it's exhausting for all of us.

Jumping off diving boards!

Jumping on the trampoline.  We made just enough money at the yard sale to get one this year.  It's been a great workout for me and Scott.  I can really feel it in the quads.

Wiffle ball.  Grandma's a good pitcher.  And she's a good belly itcher, too.

Play in the snow for hours.  This is from our March trip to McCall.

Climb trees.  This is down by the river near our rock-throwing, snake-catching, fishing, wading, playing spot.

Run trails.  Actually the important part is hiking up a trail far enough for it to be fun to run back down.

Parks, parks, parks.  We love parks.  This is an uncomfortably super tall one in Blackfoot. .

This is the kind of slide made in the pre-wimpy kid era.  Even the chains on today's playground equipment is fool-proof now.  Anybody else notice that?

The boys took golf lessons at Warm Springs in May.  They do a great job there and it's affordable if you live in the city of Boise since it's thru Parks and Rec.   

Splash pads and parks.

Bouldering on fake mountains is a favorite at the park.

"Mom! *pant-pant*  You know what my new goal is? *pant-pant* to run a mile!" 

Trevor is the smallest and youngest kid on the Christian Running Club, but that fact only seems to push him.  I'm so amazed at how much fun he is having this summer in this program.  This Saturday is his first track meet. 

Okay, so all of this is to say that in an effort to get the boys a good dose of sleep-inducing exercise every day, I have accidentally increased their endurance.    They are not only active, but they are now going and going and going like the energizer rabbit.